Flags of Our Fathers
Movie Poster
Flags of Our Fathers is the 2006 World War II film directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the book of the same name by James Bradley (Bradley's father was the Navy corpsman who had been reported to be one of the men in the iconic photograph of the American flag raising on Iwo Jima). The film follows James Bradley upon the death of his father as he looks into the lives of the men who were featured in the photograph following the Marines' fierce battle to take the island. In the same year that Flags of our Fathers was released, Eastwood told the story of the battle for the island from the Japanese perspective in the film Letters from Iwo Jima .
The following weapons were used in the film Flags of Our Fathers :
Rifles/Carbines
M1 Garand
M1 Garands are used by a vast majority of the US Marines in the film including Corporal Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford ), Corporal Harlon Block (Benjamin Walker), Pfc. Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski (Jamie Bell ), PFC Franklin Sousley (Joseph Cross), and Sergeant Hank Hansen (Paul Walker ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pfc. Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski (Jamie Bell ) fires his M1 Garand at a Japanese machine gun bunker.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pfc. Ralph "Iggy" Ignatowski (Jamie Bell ) with his M1 Garand at the ready.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine holds the Garand. Next to him is Corporal Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford ), also armed with an M1 Garand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Corporal Harlon Block (Benjamin Walker ) fires his M1 Garand into a machine gun emplacement after it is destroyed by a fragmentation grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing US Marines firing their M1 Garands.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gust (Stark Sands ) fires his M1 Garand at the Japanese snipers on Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Several M1 Garand rifles are propped up against a sandbagged tent. Gust (Stark Sands ) also has an M1 Garand slung around his back.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Garand with M1 bayonet - .30-06
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Corporal Ira Hayes (Adam Beach ) holds his M1 Garand fitted with a bayonet upward, impaling a Japanese soldier with it.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Hank Hansen (Paul Walker ) aiming his M1 Garand atop Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Hank Hansen and Pvt. Gust (Stark Sands ) fire their M1 Garands on Mt. Suribachi.
M1 Carbine
M1 Carbines are seen used by some US Marines including Sergeant Mike Strank (Barry Pepper ) and Corporal Ira Hayes (Adam Beach ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A US Marine nervously aims his M1 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Mike Strank (Barry Pepper ) and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach ) with their M1 Carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing On the left, Sergeant Mike Strank (Barry Pepper ) and Lt. Pennel (Tom Verica ) fire their M1 Carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Corporal Ira Hayes (Adam Beach ) fires his M1 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine fires his M1 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Corporal Ira Hayes (Adam Beach ) fires his M1 Carbine at Japanese soldiers killing Marines with their bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine looks out at the carnage of the battle from atop Mt. Suribachi while holding his M1 Carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An interesting to note that the memorial of the Marines raising "Ol' Glory" shows that the M1 Carbine slung on Corporal Ira Hayes' back is a post-WWII model with a bayonet lug. This occurred because the sculptor used a post-war carbine as a model for the full-size memorial. The original cast stone model of the memorial had the correct era M1.
Arisaka Type 99
Japanese soldiers are mainly seen using Arisaka Type 99 rifles in the film, notably when ambushing Marines scaling Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 99 - 7.7x58mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier hiding in a machine gun emplacement shoots a Marine with his Arisaka Type 99 rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Japanese soldiers attack Marines with Arisaka Type 99 rifles fitted with bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires his Arisaka Type 99 at Marines on Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Japanese soldier fires an Arisaka Type 99 fitted with a bayonet.
An Arisaka Type 99 substitute standard rifle is used by the Japanese soldier who is impaled on Corporal Ira Hayes' (Adam Beach ) rifle bayonet.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Arisaka Type 99 substitute standard (commonly called the "last ditch" Type 99) - 7.7x58mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier drops his Arisaka substitute standard when impaled on Corporal Ira Hayes' (Adam Beach ) bayonet.
Submachine Guns
M1 Thompson
Some of the US Marines use M1 Thompsons in the film, noted by their simplified "L" peep sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Thompson - .45 ACP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine on the beach holding his M1 Thompson.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine finishes off burning Japanese soldiers with his M1 Thompson.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine holding his M1 Thompson.
M1928A1 Thompson
An M1928A1 Thompson is seen being held by a Marine right after the B-29 flies over.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine seen in the background behind Gust (Stark Sands ) holds an M1928A1 Thompson.
Reising M55
The real Sgt. Mike Strank is seen holding a Reising M55 submachine gun in a war photo during the end credits.
File:20665 1800 1 lg.jpg Reising M55 submachine gun (folding stock variant) - .45 ACP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The real Sgt. Strank holding a Reising M55 submachine gun.
Machine Guns
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2s are used by some of the Marines in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine on the beaches of Iwo Jima carries a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 with the bipod folded.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine takes cover while holding a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2. Note that in this shot, the B.A.R. is missing the bipod
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine uses his BAR to suppress a Japanese machine gunner (Notice how it looks like the rear sight is missing.
Browning M1917
After the Marines plant the first flag, a Browning M1917 is briefly seen behind Corporal Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1917 machine gun .30-06 with tripod and ammo box
Error creating thumbnail: File missing After the Marines plant the first flag, a Browning M1917 is briefly seen behind Corporal Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford ).
Browning M1919A4
Browning M1919A4s are seen used by Marines that land on Iwo Jima.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1919A4 on M2 tripod - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine fires a Browning M1919A4 while receiving orders. Note how the belt is loaded with crimp-nosed blanks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine fires a Browning M1919A4.
Browning M2HB
Browning M2HBs are used by Marines on LVTs to shoot at Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M2HB - .50 BMG.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine fires a Browning M2HB at Mt. Suribachi from an LTV.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine fires a Browning M2HB.
Nambu Type 99
Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Guns are used by some Japanese soldiers to shoot at Marines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires a Nambu Type 99 at the Marines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese soldier fires his Nambu Type 99 at Marines scaling Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two Japanese soldiers man the same gun before being killed.
Nambu Type 92
Many Japanese soldiers fire on the US Marines with Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Guns in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 92 HMG - 7.7x58mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Japanese gunner fires a Nambu Type 92 at Marines on the beach.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another gunner fires a Nambu Type 92 from Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Nambu Type 92 used by the Japanese as an Antiaircraft gun from Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The muzzle of a Nambu Type 92 protrudes from a deactivated bunker.
Shotguns
Winchester Model 1897
A Marine is briefly seen behind "Doc" (Ryan Phillippe ) holds a Winchester 1897 shotgun while scaling Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1897 "Trench" - 12 Gauge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine is briefly seen behind "Doc" (Ryan Phillippe ) holding a Winchester 1897 shotgun.
Handguns
M1911A1
Many of the US Marines in the film carry M1911A1 pistols in their holsters. When scaling Mt. Suribachi, Medic John "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe ) keeps his drawn and fires a few rounds at Japanese soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1911A1 - .45 ACP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Mike Strank (Barry Pepper ) with an M1911A1 in his holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing U.S Navy Corpsman John "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe ) with his M1911A1 on Mt. Suribachi.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Doc" Bradley with his M1911A1 as he and several fellow Marines carefully approach a cave on Iwo Jima.
Nambu Type 94
Among the gear found by dead Japanese soldiers in a tunnel (who committed suicide with their Type 97 hand grenades , (seen in greater detail in Letters from Iwo Jima ) is a Nambu Type 94 pistol in its holster.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nambu Type 94 - 8x22mm Nambu
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Nambu Type 94 is found in a holster in one of the Japanese tunnels.
Other
M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher
PFC Franklin Sousley (Joseph Cross ) is seen using an M7 grenade launcher mounted on his M1 Garand . Gust (Stark Sands ) is seen attaching a Mk 2 hand grenade fitted with an M1 rifle grenade adapter.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M7 rifle grenade launcher
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mk 2 grenade with M1A2 rifle grenade adapter
Error creating thumbnail: File missing On the far left, Gust (Stark Sands ) is seen attaching the M17 Rifle Grenade to the M1 Garand rifle of PFC Franklin Sousley (Joseph Cross ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gust attaches another M17 Rifle Grenade to Sousley's M1 Garand.
M2 Flamethrower
An M2 Flamethrower is used by Corporal Charles W. Lindberg (Alessandro Mastrobuono ) to burn a Japanese pillbox.
M2 Flamethrower - Seven second burn time.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Lindberg (Alessandro Mastrobuono ) is on the right as he takes cover while holding his M2 Flamethrower.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Lindberg (Alessandro Mastrobuono ) gets up to burn out the bunker.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Cpl. Lindberg (Alessandro Mastrobuono ) burns a pillbox with his M2 Flamethrower.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A war photo from Iwo Jima shows a Marine running with an M2 Flamethrower in the credits.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Marine holding an M2 Flamethrower in the credits.
MK II Hand Grenade
US Marines carry MK II hand grenades in pouches. One if seen used by a Corporal Harlon Block (Benjamin Walker ) to attempt to clear a machine gun emplacement before it is suddenly functional again.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing MK II hand grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sgt. Strank tosses Corporal Harlon Block (Benjamin Walker ) an MK II grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Corporal Block prepares to throw an MK II grenade into a machine gun emplacement.
Oerlikon 20mm Cannon
A pair of Oerlikon 20mm Cannon is seen manned on one of the US Naval ships approaching Iwo Jima.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Oerlikon Cannon - 20mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of Oerlikon Cannons are seen at the top of the image.
Bofors 40mm
Mounted on several of the US Naval ships are Bofors 40mm Quad Mounted guns, which are used to shell the coast of Iwo Jima throughout much of the battle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bofors 40mm L/60 quad mounting - 40×311mmR
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Marines fire 40mm Bofors guns at the coast of Iwo Jima.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Marines unload a quad Bofors (possibly on USS Leutze) before being destroyed by a Japanese heavy gun.
M116 75mm Pack Howitzer
U.S. Marines fire M116 75mm Pack Howitzers on the beach.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M116 75mm “Pack” howitzer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing U.S. Marines try to set up the howitzer.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing U.S. Marines fire the howitzer.
M101 Howitzer
An M101 Howitzer is seen also on the beach.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M101 Howitzer - 105mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The howitzer seen on the right.
Type 89 "Knee Mortar"
Seen among the dead Japanese soldiers in the tunnel is a Type 89 "Knee Mortar" .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Type 89 "Knee Mortar". In reality, it was translated as "Leg Mortar" but poor translation changed it to Knee.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Type 89 "Knee Mortar" is seen next to a dead Japanese soldier.